When I stood stock-still in front of the screen, some men turned around and stared at me, as if to wonder at what I was doing.
How naive I am, I suppose.
Patriotism is outdated.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
No one stood still.
Today is the 26th of January. This is the day when the entire country is supposed to be celebrating Republic Day. I was at the Metro station, waiting for the train to arrive. The television screens were playing a version of the National Anthem. It was at a pretty high volume so that everyone there could hear it. Strangely enough, people could not be less bothered. Some of them just slouched in the chairs, while others even stared at the TVs and watched it being played without taking the effort of standing still for those few moments. A few were generally walking around, chatting and laughing while the song went on in vain.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
It isn't, it isn't.
Patriotism doesn't come from standing up for the National Anthem. That's kind of like exhibitionism. Now mark this... I'm not saying that I won't stand up for the National Anthem. I'm just saying, is all.
True patriotism comes from the trust which you put in your country. The feeling of brotherhood and equality.
Of course, that pro-social feeling might just be an idiot's dream... Then again!
@Deboleena: I hope you are right. I hope it hasn't.
@Deeptarko: You are right.But then again, it is often the little things that end up mattering.If people cannot bother to make a small effort, brotherhood and trust will be an idiot's dream, no? :)
@Deeptarko: Are the big things there either?
@Rudrani: I'll persist in my argument that capitalism and nationalism can't go together. Right now, we live by principles of profit maximization, not of patriotism. I'd rather worry about getting capitalism with social justice rather than standing by the symbols of a nationalism that is dying or dead.
@Suki: I agree with what you said. If the little things are not there, the big things are still a long way off. Also, why do you think that capitalism is not conducive to a culture of nationalism? (This is not a rhetorical question, by the way :)
Post a Comment